Winds, dry conditions to hamper efforts to tame California wildfire

Thomas wildfire burns above Bella Vista Drive near Romero Canyon in this social media photo by Santa Barbara County Fire Department in Montecito, California, U.S. December 12, 2017. Courtesy Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department/Handout via REUTERS

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (Reuters) - Powerful gusts of wind and bone dry conditions will remain overriding concerns for Californian firefighters on Wednesday as they seek to tame a huge blaze that has destroyed hundreds of homes.

The Thomas Fire has travelled 27 miles (43 km) since it began on Dec. 4 to become the fifth-largest wildfire in state history. It has charred more than 368 square miles (953 square km) of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, an area larger than New York City.